Unexpected oasis: Eureka Springs, Arkansas

If you’re in search of the Berkeley of Arkansas, with a little Key West and Branson thrown into the mix, look no further than the Ozarks and a little town called Eureka Springs.

It’s the kind of place that organizes bluegrass and blues festivals, gay-friendly “Diversity Weekends” and an annual UFO conference.

The Master Ching Hai Meditation Association Adopt-a-Highway sign is across the road from the popular Road Dawg biker shop; thousands drive past both on their way to attend the Great Passion Play outdoor drama under a 67 foot tall Christ of the Ozarks statue.

The main part of town can get a little too “My Old Mountain Home” cutesy for my taste, but a walk up historic Spring Street reveals beautiful, lovingly-preserved Victorian houses. They have survived numerous threats from fires over the years, and many were torn down during the Depression to use the value of their lumber to pay taxes, so townsfolk are appreciative of the ones that are left.

The arts are at home in this mountain village; for example, writers of every genre enjoy retreats at the Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow. Cookbook authors spend weeks there testing recipes in the unique culinary suite’s full kitchen. Says Special Projects Consultant Sandy Wright with a laugh, “I’m not proud of this, but I had three pieces of blueberry pie because, well, the author was trying to get the consistency right.”

The nearby Art Colony’s eight studio buildings are arranged so that visitors can wander around and talk to working craftspeople as creations are being made. Naturally, the artisans have plenty of their wares available for sale.

For a different kind of stimulation, there’s always a standing bocce ball challenge on the Colony’s court.

For a good meal, try Local Flavor Café or the Mud Street Café. If you’re not in a hurry, there are fresh “Ark-Mex” vegetarian meals at The Oasis, tucked down a staircase off Spring Street; call (479) 253-0886.

Eureka Springs is located on the old Ozark Trail (now Highway 62) a road trip artery that ran from Niagara Falls, New York to El Paso, Texas. Consequently, many of the motels are Mom-and-Pop tourist court style. Distinctive cottage-style lodging is available at the Rock Cottage Gardens and the Tall Pines Inn.

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8 Comments

Funny you should post about Eureka Springs, Arkansas today as was just reading a Forbes article about the Crescent Hotel and Spa in Eureka Springs who are offering a unique and creepy opportunity – to sleep in the old morgue, complete with the old autopsy table. Not my idea of fun,but Eureka Springs definitely like a place to add to my road trip list…

Oh my gosh, Sheila, I’ve wanted to go here for almost 15 years! Strange story — I worked at a coffee shop in Minnesota, and someone left a mug there. It was never claimed, so I took it, and it’s been my favorite mug for, like I said, almost 15 years. And it’s got an etching on the side that says, “Arsenic & Old Lace Inn, Eureka Springs, Arkansas.” It’s one of my dreams to make a pilgrimage, especially as the mug broke last year –thanks for a taste of something to come!

I happened through here a couple summers ago because we have family in the area. Is there a reason you didn’t mention the antiquing? Besides the live music, I remember hunting through a number of different shops, searching for a good bargain!

I enjoyed your post very much-I have a love of all things EurekaSprings-my husband and I celebrate our anniversary there for the past 11 yrs-this yr i am letting my blog readers pick where we will stay

Thanks for sharing the nice places to eat in the area. There’s an adage that goes you can only truly understand the culture of a people through the food that they eat. I must say it almost always holds true for the places I’ve been in.